CILS A1 cheat sheet

CILS A1 Ascolto has 2 tasks, 6 items total; you hear each recording twice; total section time about 15 minutes.

Task 1: 3 short dialogues (micro-conversations) with 3 multiple-choice questions (A/B/C); each dialogue is 30–60 seconds.

Task 2: 3 short monologues or announcements with 3 true/false or matching items; topics are everyday (shop, station, phone message).

Listen for numbers, times, prices, and days first - A1 items usually test one concrete detail per question.

Common distractors: the speaker mentions two numbers; the correct answer is the one tied to the question word (quando, quanto, dove, chi).

Before each listening, read the question and options; underline the key word (e.g. 'A che ora?', 'Quanto costa?').

Second listening is for confirming or changing an answer; do not leave blanks - an unanswered item scores zero.

Typical A1 vocabulary: biglietto, binario, orario, sconto, aperto/chiuso, farmacia, mercato, appuntamento.

If you miss a word, keep listening: the answer is often repeated or paraphrased later in the same recording.

CILS A1 Lettura has 3 tasks, 9 items; time allowed is about 30 minutes; each item is worth 1 point.

Task 1: 3 short texts (notice, SMS, email) with 3 multiple-choice questions (A/B/C).

Task 2: 3 short texts to match with 3 headings or situations (matching task).

Task 3: 3 true/false items on one longer simple text (100–150 words).

A1 texts are authentic-style: avvisi, orari, menu, volantini, messaggi; look for the key word repeated in the question.

For matching, identify the topic word in each heading first (e.g. 'cibo', 'lavoro', 'viaggio') and scan the texts for that word.

True/false traps: a text may say 'aperto il sabato' while the item says 'aperto la domenica' - check the exact day/time.

Cognates help (farmacia, stazione, musica), but false friends exist: 'burro' = butter, not donkey; 'camera' = room, not camera.

Never leave an item blank: wrong and blank both score 0, but a guess has a chance of being right.

CILS A1 Produzione scritta has 2 tasks; time allowed is about 30 minutes; total length about 40–60 words.

Task 1: write a short message or postcard (about 20–30 words) following 3–4 prompts (e.g. greet, say where you are, say what you are doing).

Task 2: fill in a simple form or write a short note (about 20–30 words) with personal data (nome, cognome, nazionalità, indirizzo).

Assessment criteria: task completion, comprehensibility, and basic grammar/spelling; content matters more than length.

Use fixed A1 formulas: 'Ciao, come stai?', 'Sono a …', 'Ti scrivo da …', 'A presto', 'Un abbraccio'.

Present tense of essere/avere and regular -are/-ere/-ire verbs covers most A1 writing; avoid complex subordinate clauses.

Write the required information in order; if the prompt asks 3 things, produce 3 short sentences - one idea per sentence.

Check articles and agreement: 'un amico' / 'un'amica', 'il libro' / 'la casa'; final -o/-a/-e must agree with the noun.

Always include a greeting and a closing: they count toward task completion and are easy points.

CILS A1 Produzione orale has 2 tasks and lasts about 5–6 minutes; it is recorded and assessed by two examiners.

Task 1: a short interview with the examiner on familiar topics (name, nationality, family, work/study, hobbies).

Task 2: a simple transactional role-play or describing a picture/personal experience using prompts.

Assessment criteria: communicative effectiveness, comprehensibility, basic vocabulary, and pronunciation; errors are tolerated at A1.

Prepare fixed answers for the interview: 'Mi chiamo…', 'Sono…', 'Ho… anni', 'Abito a…', 'Lavoro/Studio…', 'Mi piace…'.

Use formal 'Lei' if the examiner addresses you formally; otherwise 'tu' is acceptable in the interview.

If you do not understand, use repair phrases: 'Scusi, può ripetere?', 'Non ho capito', 'Come si dice…?'.

Answer in complete short sentences, not single words: 'Sì, mi piace molto la musica' beats 'Sì'.

In the role-play, use standard formulas: 'Vorrei…', 'Quanto costa?', 'Posso pagare con la carta?', 'Grazie, arrivederci'.